Pneumatic shooting device

ABSTRACT

A pneumatic shooting device, including a barrel and an action having a housing defining a pressure reservoir with a discharge outlet connected to the barrel. A linear bearing body is coupled with the housing. A piston with a discharge end is slidably movable within the linear bearing body to selectively open and close the discharge outlet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pneumatic shooting device, and, moreparticularly, to an action in a pneumatic shooting device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Pneumatic shooting devices are known which are used as a non-lethaldeterrent in law enforcement, as a simulated weapon in war games and asa marking device in paintball competitions. A known pneumatic shootingdevice includes a trigger actuated, spring loaded bolt that, whenactuated by pulling the trigger, strikes a pneumatic valve. The strikingaction of the bolt opens the valve releasing a pressurized gas behind aprojectile which propels the projectile through a barrel. A blowbackfrom the valve returns the bolt to a firing position and also results inless pressure for propelling the projectile. Multiple moving parts, suchas both the bolt and the valve, increases the chance for device failure.

As applications for pneumatic shooting devices have increased due totheir utility and wide spread use, a need for pneumatic shooting deviceswhich fire larger projectiles has developed. Larger projectiles requirelarger firing pressures. The aforementioned pneumatic shooting devicesare not suitable for these larger projectiles primarily because theirvalve, receiver, barrel and other elements are not suitable for thelarger firing pressures. In other words, the aforementioned pneumaticshooting devices are not scalable to larger pressures required by largerprojectiles.

In paintball competitions, a known application of larger projectilepneumatic shooting devices are in devices referred to as “scenariolaunchers”. Such a scenario launcher is used to fire a rocket, forexample, and a judge determines the “kill zone” depending on the pointof impact of the projectile, the terrain and the type of projectilefired.

One known scenario launcher incorporates a rupture disk. The rupturedisk ruptures at a predetermined pressure allowing pressurized gas toescape to propel the projectile. Such devices have a time delay betweentriggering and firing. This delay occurs as the pressure increases torupture the disk. The delay may be as long as one or more seconds. Theshooter, during the delay, is unsure of when or if the device will fire.Further, the shooter or target can move during the delay resulting inloss of accuracy. Another disadvantage is that the rupture disk needs tobe replaced after every firing.

Another known pneumatic shooting device uses a ball valve to release thepressurized gas which propels the projectile. While the initial releaseof pressure is relatively quick compared to the rupture disk method, therelease of pressure is gradual, as in turning on a faucet, where thevalve orifice transitions from a fully closed position to a fully openposition. In addition to not having an explosive initial release ofpressure, such devices make a “swoosh” sound which does not provide anaccurate sound simulation.

A common problem with the higher operational pressures is safety factor.A limitation to known pneumatic shooting devices is that their structuredoes not allow safe operation at the pressures required to propel alarge projectile. A further limitation of known pneumatic shootingdevices is they are typically limited for use with a single type ofprojectile, such as a ball.

What is needed in the art is a pneumatic shooting device which isscalable to a large range of operating pressures, which has a minimum ofmoving parts, which is operable at a relatively high pneumatic pressure,which is capable of safe operation at high pneumatic pressures, whichdoes not reduce the operating pressure due to blowback or otheroperational deficiencies, which is economical to manufacture, whichprovides reliable repetitive use, which requires minimal maintenance,which can be used with a variety of projectiles or projectile materialand which provides good sound simulation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a pneumatic shooting device with ascalable action that is operable at a relatively high pressure and overa large pressure range.

The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a pneumatic shootingdevice, including a barrel and an action having a housing defining apressure reservoir with a discharge outlet connected to the barrel. Alinear bearing body is coupled with the housing. A piston with adischarge end is slidably movable within the linear bearing body toselectively open and close the discharge outlet.

An advantage of the present invention is a pneumatic shooting devicewhich is scalable to a large range of operating pressures.

Another advantage of the present invention is a pneumatic shootingdevice which has a minimum of moving parts.

Yet another advantage is of the present invention is a pneumaticshooting device which is operable at a relatively high pneumaticpressure.

A further advantage is of the present invention is a pneumatic shootingdevice which is capable of safe operation at high pneumatic pressures.

A further advantage is of the present invention is a pneumatic shootingdevice which does not reduce the operating pressure due to blowback orother operational deficiencies.

A further advantage is of the present invention is a pneumatic shootingdevice which is economical to manufacture.

A further advantage is of the present invention is a pneumatic shootingdevice which provides reliable repetitive use.

A further advantage is of the present invention is a pneumatic shootingdevice which requires minimal maintenance.

A further advantage is of the present invention is a pneumatic shootingdevice which can be used with a variety of projectiles or projectilematerial.

A further advantage is of the present invention is a pneumatic shootingdevice which provides good sound simulation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention,and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and theinvention will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partially fragmentary side view of an embodiment of apneumatic shooting device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a pneumatic shootingdevice of the present invention shown in the ready state;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a pneumatic shootingdevice of the present invention shown in the fire state;

FIG. 4 is a partially cross sectional side view of an embodiment of theaction of the present invention taken along section line 4-4 in FIG. 1;and

FIG. 5 is a partially fragmentary side view of another embodiment of apneumatic shooting device of the present invention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The exemplifications set out hereinillustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, andsuch exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope ofthe invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there isshown a pneumatic shooting device 10 including a barrel 12 and an action14.

Action 14 includes housing 16 defining a pressure reservoir 18 with adischarge outlet 20 connected to barrel 12. A linear bearing body 22 iscoupled with housing 16. Action 14 further includes piston 24 with adischarge end 26. Piston 24 is slidably movable within linear bearingbody 22 to selectively open and close discharge outlet 20.

Linear bearing body 22 can be at least partially defined by and/orattached to pressure reservoir 18.

Piston 24 can include an actuating end 28, and housing 16 can include anactuating reservoir 30, actuating end 28 is at least partially locatedwithin actuating reservoir 30. Seal 31, such as an O-ring, pneumaticallyseparates pressure reservoir 18 and actuating reservoir 30. Apressurized gas source 32 is pneumatically connected to both pressurereservoir 18 and actuating reservoir 30. Pressurized gas source 32 canbe a tube leading to a pressure canister, as shown, or the canisteralone. Trigger 34, actuated by a shooter, actuates firing valve 36.Pressure reservoir 18 is pressurized by pressurized gas source 32through regulator 60. Resilient member 36 biases discharge end 26 ofpiston 24 against discharge outlet 20 to allow the pressurization ofpressure reservoir 18. When trigger 34 is actuated to close firing valve36 (FIG. 3) actuating reservoir 30 is pressurized to force actuating end28 to oppose resilient member 38 thereby opening discharge outlet 20 andreleasing the pressure 84 in pressure reservoir 18 through dischargeoutlet 20 and into barrel 12 to propel projectile 40 through and out ofbarrel 12.

A supply fitting 42 is pneumatically connected to pressure reservoir 18.An actuator fitting 44 is pneumatically connected to actuating reservoir30. A slip ring 46 can be connected to both supply fitting 42 andactuator fitting 44 to allow for a proper positioning of supply fitting42 and actuator fitting 44.

An end cap 48 is pneumatically connected to actuating reservoir 30 andend cap 48 has an exhaust vent 52 connected to ambient to dischargeactuating reservoir 30 or alternatively, housing 16 can include exhaustvent 53. A trigger safety 50 is connected to trigger 34.

Discharge end 26 includes a taper 54 to improve the explosive release ofthe pressurized gas into discharge outlet 20 and barrel 12. A radialseal 56 provides a pneumatic seal when piston 24 closes discharge outlet20. Alternatively, barrel interface 58 of pressure reservoir 18 caninclude a face seal 57. For a face seal embodiment, discharge end 26 ofpiston 24 fits over discharge outlet 20, instead of in discharge outlet20, and contacts face seal 57. Both of the radial seal and the face sealcan be an O-ring, for example.

A regulator 60 is pneumatically connected to pressurized gas source 32.A supply tubing 62 connects regulator 60 to pressure reservoir 18.Similarly, actuator tubing 63 connects firing valve 36 to actuatingreservoir 30. Tubing 62 has a burst pressure and pressure reservoir 18has a pressure rating, a ratio of the burst pressure to the pressurerating is no more than 0.5 which provides for the tubing to fail wellprior to a potential failure of pressure reservoir 18. In the unlikelyevent that tubing 62 fails (regulator 60 regulates the pressure intubing 62 below its burst pressure), tubing 62 will harmlessly burstwithin tubing housing 64 and discharge pressure reservoir 18 well beforethe pressure rating of pressure reservoir 18 is reached. As a furthersafety feature, pressure reservoir 18 has both a pressure rating and anoperating pressure, a ratio of the operating pressure to the pressurerating is no more than 0.5. Therefor regulator 60 regulates at apressure well below the pressure rating of pressure reservoir 18.

A pressure relief valve 66 is located between pressure reservoir 18 andambient to keep the operational pressure of pressure reservoir 18 wellbelow its pressure rating thus providing further safety redundancy. Abreech 68 is associated with barrel 12 and pneumatic shooting device 10is loaded with projectile 70 at breech 68. As shown in dashed lines inFIG. 1, barrel 12 is disconnected from discharge outlet 20 duringloading therefore projectile 70 cannot be fired from barrel 12 duringloading. A trigger lock out (not shown) can be provided when the barrelis in the open position to provide yet further safety redundancy.

For example, pressure reservoir 18 can have a pressure rating of 500 psi(pounds per square inch) and pressure reservoir 18 is operated at apressure of no more than 200 psi, well within the pressure rating ofpressure reservoir 18.

Discharge outlet 20 has a discharge outlet diameter 72. Barrel 12 has abarrel diameter 74. A ratio of discharge outlet diameter 72 to barreldiameter 74 is greater than 0.1. This relatively large ratio providesfor an explosive release of high pressure, accompanied by a explosivesound, which is both capable of propelling larger projectiles andproviding realistic weapon sound. Discharge outlet 20 can be an abruptpneumatic orifice 76 which can further enhance the explosive sound atfiring.

As shown in FIG. 5, pneumatic shooting device 80 can be a grenadelauncher demonstrating the scalable nature of action 14. The pneumaticshooting device of the present invention can be a bazooka, a grenadelauncher, a mortar, a rocket launcher, a cannon, a rocket propelledgrenade launcher, a missile launcher, a landmine and/or a gun furtherdemonstrating the scalable nature of action 14.

Alternatively, barrel 12 and housing 16 are monolithic or separate.

Although piston 24 is shown as being pneumatically actuated, piston 24can be at least pneumatically actuated, electrically actuated,magnetically actuated, electro-magnetically actuated and/or chemicallyactuated. For example, actuating end 26 of piston 24 can be magnetizedand actuating reservoir 30 can include an electrical coil. The triggerwhen actuated electrifies the coil which provides a force on theactuating end of the piston thereby firing the device. An example ofchemical actuation is the trigger impacting a pyrotechnic firing cap,firing the cap creating a firing pressure, which firing pressureactuates the piston.

Alternatively, trigger 34 and firing valve 36 can be replaced by asolenoid valve (not shown) for remote operation of the pneumaticshooting device, as may be the case in a multi-barreled arrangement, orwhen the pneumatic shooting device is used on or in conjunction with avehicle, which may a ground, underground, air, sea, undersea or spacevehicle. For example, the multiple barreled arrangement is conceived asmultiple pneumatic shooting devices in a variety of geometric patternsdepending on the design and application of the multiple barreledarrangement. Different types of pneumatic shooting devices, such as abazooka and a grenade launcher, can also be combined in a multiplebarreled arrangement. Each supply line for one of multiple of thepneumatic shooting devices of the multiple barreled arrangement can beconnected to a regulator output of a pressurized gas source. Each of themultiple pneumatic shooting devices can have separate triggers andfiring valves, or alternatively, the triggers and valves can be replacedby a single or multiple solenoid valves, for example, for simultaneous,sequential, or other patterned firing of the multiple pneumatic shootingdevices.

The pneumatic shooting device of the present invention can be used witha variety of projectiles. For example, projectile 40 is shown as a ball,projectile 70 is shown as a rocket or bazooka round and projectile 82 isshown as a grenade. The pneumatic shooting device of the presentinvention can use a projectile which is a fluid, a powder, a fragment, arocket, a confetti, a shot, a bazooka round, a mortar round, a missile,a ball, a bullet, a grenade and/or a cannon shell.

In use, pneumatic shooting device 10 is connected to pressurized gassource 32 which pressurizes pressure reservoir 18 of action 14. Aprojectile is loaded into barrel 12 of pneumatic shooting device 10.Trigger 34 of pneumatic shooting device 10 is actuated. Piston 24 ismoved within linear bearing body 22 of action 14. Piston 24 is releasedfrom discharge outlet 20 in housing 16. A volume of a pressurized gas 84is expelled through barrel 12 thereby ejecting a projectile.

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design,the present invention can be further modified within the spirit andscope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended tocover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using itsgeneral principles. Further, this application is intended to cover suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customarypractice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fallwithin the limits of the appended claims.

1. A pneumatic shooting device, comprising: a barrel; and an actionincluding a housing defining a pressure reservoir with a dischargeoutlet connected to said barrel, a linear bearing body coupled with saidhousing, and a piston having a discharge end, said piston being slidablymovable within said linear bearing body to selectively open and closesaid discharge outlet.
 2. The pneumatic shooting device of claim 1,wherein said piston includes an actuating end, said housing includes anactuating reservoir, said actuating end at least partially locatedwithin said actuating reservoir.
 3. The pneumatic shooting device ofclaim 2, further including a pressurized gas source pneumaticallyconnected to both said pressure reservoir and said actuating reservoir.4. The pneumatic shooting device of claim 2, further including a supplyfitting pneumatically connected to said pressure reservoir, an actuatorfitting pneumatically connected to said actuating reservoir and a slipring connected to both said supply fitting and said actuator fitting,said slip ring for a proper positioning of said supply fitting and saidactuator fitting.
 5. The pneumatic shooting device of claim 2, furtherincluding an end cap pneumatically connected to said actuatingreservoir, said end cap having an exhaust vent connected to an ambient.6. The pneumatic shooting device of claim 2, further including apressurized gas source, a trigger being located pneumatically betweensaid pressurized gas source and said actuating reservoir, and a triggersafety mechanically connected to said trigger.
 7. The pneumatic shootingdevice of claim 1, wherein said discharge end includes a radial seal. 8.The pneumatic shooting device of claim 1, wherein said pressurereservoir includes a barrel interface, said discharge opening located atsaid barrel interface, said barrel interface includes a face seal. 9.The pneumatic shooting device of claim 1, further including apressurized gas source pneumatically connected to said pressurereservoir, a regulator pneumatically connected to said pressurized gassource and a tubing from said regulator to said pressure reservoir. 10.The pneumatic shooting device of claim 9, wherein said tubing has aburst pressure and said pressure reservoir has a pressure rating, aratio of said burst pressure to said pressure rating is no more than0.5.
 11. The pneumatic shooting device of claim 1, wherein said pressurereservoir has both a pressure rating and an operating pressure, a ratioof said operating pressure to said pressure rating is no more than 0.5.12. The pneumatic shooting device of claim 1, further including apressure relief valve between said pressure reservoir and an ambient.13. The pneumatic shooting device of claim 1, further including a breechassociated with said barrel, said pneumatic shooting device being loadedwith a projectile at said breech.
 14. The pneumatic shooting device ofclaim 1, wherein said pressure reservoir is operated at a pressure of nomore than 200 psi.
 15. The pneumatic shooting device of claim 1, whereinsaid discharge outlet has a discharge outlet diameter, said barrel has abarrel diameter, a ratio of said discharge outlet diameter to saidbarrel diameter is greater than 0.1.
 16. The pneumatic shooting deviceof claim 15, wherein said discharge outlet is an abrupt pneumaticorifice.
 17. The pneumatic shooting device of claim 1, wherein saidbarrel and said housing are one of monolithic and separate.
 18. Thepneumatic shooting device of claim 1, wherein said piston includes anactuating end, said piston is at least one of pneumatically actuated,electrically actuated, magnetically actuated, electro-magneticallyactuated and chemically actuated.
 19. The pneumatic shooting device ofclaim 1, wherein said pneumatic shooting device is one of a bazooka, agrenade launcher, a mortar, a rocket launcher, a cannon, a rocketpropelled grenade launcher, a missile launcher, a landmine and a gun.20. The pneumatic shooting device of claim 1, wherein said linearbearing body is one of defined by and attached to said pressurereservoir
 21. An action for use in a pneumatic shooting device,comprising: a housing defining a pressure reservoir with a dischargeoutlet; a linear bearing body coupled with said housing; and a pistonhaving a discharge end, said piston being slidably movable within saidlinear bearing body to selectively open and close said discharge outlet.22. The piston valve of claim 21, wherein said piston includes anactuating end, said housing includes an actuating reservoir, saidactuating end at least partially located within said actuatingreservoir.
 23. A method of operating a pneumatic shooting device,comprising the steps of: connecting said pneumatic shooting device to apressurized source gas thereby pressurizing a pressure reservoir of anaction; loading a projectile into a barrel of said pneumatic shootingdevice; actuating a trigger of said pneumatic shooting device; moving apiston within a linear bearing body of said action; releasing saidpiston from a discharge outlet in said housing; and expelling a volumeof a pressurized gas through said barrel thereby ejecting saidprojectile.